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HR7750119th Congress

POINT Act

Sponsored By: Representative Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create new criminal rules and court tools to prevent federal officials from disrupting state elections. It defines a wide range of "election interference," sets penalties, and gives states expedited ways to block or undo federal actions that would alter or delay election processes.

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  • States would get a fast federal cause of action to seek injunctive relief when federal conduct likely disrupts an election. Courts must move quickly and include tightened appellate timelines, such as a 15-day window for notices of appeal.
  • Targeted federal actors include the President, Vice President, senior White House staff, the Attorney General, the FBI Director, the Director of National Intelligence, cabinet secretaries, agency directors, and certain subordinates. A new criminal offense would cover specified interference and carry fines or up to 5 years in prison.
  • The bill would restrict the President's use of the Armed Forces or federal law enforcement in a State when that use would likely postpone, delay, or influence an election. Two exceptions are allowed: enforcing the Voting Rights Act and responding to secession or armed rebellion.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban on high-level election interference

This bill would make it a federal crime for certain high-level federal officials and their managers to knowingly interfere in an election. It would also ban knowingly using government property, personnel, information systems, or appropriated funds to interfere in an election. Covered people would include the President, Vice President, the Attorney General, heads of agencies, and similar officials and their managerial subordinates. A conviction could bring a fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both.

Limit presidential military actions in elections

This bill would stop the President from sending the Armed Forces or exercising federal law enforcement authority in a State when that action would likely disrupt, postpone, delay, prevent, or influence an election. Exceptions would allow deployments to enforce the Voting Rights Act and for elections tied to secession or armed rebellion. Any State affected could sue the United States in federal district court for injunctions and other relief. The President would bear the burden of proving no violation occurred and courts would be required to fast-track these cases with shortened appeal filing windows (generally 15 days).

States can sue over federal rights harms

This bill would let a State sue the United States in federal court if the State says the United States harmed certain State constitutional rights. Enumerated rights include Full Faith and Credit, a State legislature's consent to form a new State, the republican form of government guarantee, amendment ratification and equal Senate representation rules, reserved powers under the Tenth Amendment, and electors' right to meet and transmit certified lists. Courts would be required to speed these cases and shorten appeals filing windows to about 15 days.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

NY • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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